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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSE Easter revision question for Y11s taking them this summer *title edited by MNHQ*

27 replies

OneSugar1 · 02/04/2023 09:25

Could I ask how much revision your dc will be doing each day?

i can’t remember how much I did as I dud mine about a thousand years ago but I know I was a bit of a swot. DS, not so much!

not sure what’s reasonable.

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 02/04/2023 09:33

They need a proper revision timetable, and to work out how much time each subject needs, to work out how much to do in a day. I would recommend a full school day, most days, so say 5-6 hours. Start early, lots of breaks, maybe 7-7.45, breakfast, 8-8.45, break, etc, but make sure breaks are stuck to rigidly, if you break when expected you learn a lot just before the break, but if you give yourself an Off-the-cuff break, you miss out on that particularly receptive time just before the break.

Make sure each chunk of time has a specific aim though, and lots of encouragement, any time is better than none.

Every day, review what was done the day before, briefly, and every week, review what was done the week before too, never only look once.

It helps to revise in silence, as it will be recalled in silence, ( do not listen to anyone who says they work better with music on! They are deluding themselves!)and it can help to revise during the times of day you will actually be sitting exams.

The only exception to that is quick reviews through what was studied earlier, in slots of a few minutes, in ad breaks, gaming breaks, waiting at the bus stop, etc

doasIsaynotasIdo · 02/04/2023 09:33

My children's schools have said 4-5 hrs a day Shock. We plan to aim for 4 hrs but suspect it will be a battle. Good luck!

MerylSqueak · 02/04/2023 09:35

My DD is y10. I'm giving her 4 days off then it's 4-5 hours per day. It'll be a bit more next year.

Clymene · 02/04/2023 09:39

MerylSqueak · 02/04/2023 09:35

My DD is y10. I'm giving her 4 days off then it's 4-5 hours per day. It'll be a bit more next year.

Year ten! Poor kid Sad

MerylSqueak · 02/04/2023 09:45

It's because four of her core subject teachers have been away since half term.She has exams in all those this year. For example, in chemistry they've only covered three of the seven modules they will be tested on. We've been trying to keep up but it's very hard during term time.

She's very worried and has asked me to help. Thanks for the judgement though.

noblegiraffe · 02/04/2023 09:50

I told my Y11 class 4 hours a day would be reasonable.

They were utterly exhausted and fed up by the time we got to the holidays (they had mocks this term) so I'm hoping that they'll get some rest and recharging time in too otherwise even getting to the exams will be a struggle.

Clymene · 02/04/2023 09:52

MerylSqueak · 02/04/2023 09:45

It's because four of her core subject teachers have been away since half term.She has exams in all those this year. For example, in chemistry they've only covered three of the seven modules they will be tested on. We've been trying to keep up but it's very hard during term time.

She's very worried and has asked me to help. Thanks for the judgement though.

Well that's not what you said.

I'm giving her 4 days off then it's 4-5 hours per day. It'll be a bit more next year

Which implied it was coming from you, not her.

In answer to the OP, 4-5 hours here most days. But 2-3 on some days. They need rest and time with friends too.

DorotheaDiamond · 02/04/2023 09:54

Dd is following her school timetable (shifted by a hour to start later) which seems to be working for her! No decision to be made about what to revise each day/how much to do, breaks built in!

Original poster
OneSugar1 · 02/04/2023 09:58

sorry, shoukd have made it clear that I’m only interested in Y11 taking the ‘usual’ amount of gcses this summer. I’ll ask MN to amend the title.

OP posts:
Clymene · 02/04/2023 10:37

OneSugar1 · 02/04/2023 09:58

sorry, shoukd have made it clear that I’m only interested in Y11 taking the ‘usual’ amount of gcses this summer. I’ll ask MN to amend the title.

I think it is pretty clear.

That's a good idea re following the school timetable. I'm not sure that would fly in our house!

Original poster
OneSugar1 · 02/04/2023 10:58

Thanks all for the responses so far. it’s good to know how it’s going in other households.

im really struggling to keep on top of everything at home (single parent, full job plus overtime) and I missed the ‘revision tips’ evening at the school. I could kick myself. Son is by nature quite disorganised.

OP posts:
DorotheaDiamond · 02/04/2023 13:17

School timetable was her idea! She’s also taking herself to the library to study rather than home!

Original poster
OneSugar1 · 02/04/2023 13:58

DorotheaDiamond · 02/04/2023 13:17

School timetable was her idea! She’s also taking herself to the library to study rather than home!

i know if my ds went off to the library most of the ‘revision’ would consist of yapping to his mates on discord.

OP posts:
myheartmyhead · 02/04/2023 14:04

Nimbostratus100 · 02/04/2023 09:33

They need a proper revision timetable, and to work out how much time each subject needs, to work out how much to do in a day. I would recommend a full school day, most days, so say 5-6 hours. Start early, lots of breaks, maybe 7-7.45, breakfast, 8-8.45, break, etc, but make sure breaks are stuck to rigidly, if you break when expected you learn a lot just before the break, but if you give yourself an Off-the-cuff break, you miss out on that particularly receptive time just before the break.

Make sure each chunk of time has a specific aim though, and lots of encouragement, any time is better than none.

Every day, review what was done the day before, briefly, and every week, review what was done the week before too, never only look once.

It helps to revise in silence, as it will be recalled in silence, ( do not listen to anyone who says they work better with music on! They are deluding themselves!)and it can help to revise during the times of day you will actually be sitting exams.

The only exception to that is quick reviews through what was studied earlier, in slots of a few minutes, in ad breaks, gaming breaks, waiting at the bus stop, etc

Good lord!

Clymene · 02/04/2023 20:01

@OneSugar1 same! I'm working out the between mock results and what he needs and planning most revision now for things which are before half term. Mock papers are online with mark schemes. You don't need to print them off.

Test him on stuff in the evening if you're working all day. There's a lot of content online where you can ask questions to test his understanding

WhichSpoon · 02/04/2023 20:08

Ds is doing 3 hrs a day, which might not seem a lot compared to some on here, but I suspect it pretty average.

Fatkittythinkitty · 02/04/2023 20:10

Is your son's school running any revision sessions? Ours are but they've only communicated that to the kids so if your son hasn't mentioned any it might be worth trying to find out. If he's a bit disorganised or struggles to focus then anything like that may help.

I have no idea how much my son will be doing, he doesn't want my help or interference and is doing really well without it. He knows we're here if he needs anything but that's about it.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 02/04/2023 22:51

Blimey. Mine is planning to sleep late, and then revise for a couple of hours each afternoon. Weekends off. She's worked consistently hard across the 18mths of the GCSE course, and so has a decent foundation which IMO is half the battle won.

DottyLS · 03/04/2023 09:41

Starting at 7 am!?
Ds has agreed to a 9:30 start, after tense negotiations. Will do two subject sessions a day, about 3 to 4 hours maybe?

Nimbostratus100 · 03/04/2023 09:43

DottyLS · 03/04/2023 09:41

Starting at 7 am!?
Ds has agreed to a 9:30 start, after tense negotiations. Will do two subject sessions a day, about 3 to 4 hours maybe?

7 am is just a suggestion, in suits students who want free time in the afternoon and evenings, it doesn't suit everybody

tremilo · 03/04/2023 23:39

Mine is having two long weekends away (one with school, one with family) and doing a 5 day swimming course (9-5), as well as having a day out booked to the coast. I think that leaves 3 full days, and some evenings to revise. He'll be fine though.

hennybeans · 03/04/2023 23:58

Mine has decided a timetable for himself that is about 5 -6 hours of studying a day. He seems to be doing 2 hours in the daytime interspersed with Xbox and the gym, then 3-4 hours in the evening when younger siblings have gone to bed and the house is quiet. He’s a night owl as well so that suits him. Half the battle was getting him to choose a decent wake up time and sticking with it.

Dodgeitornot · 04/04/2023 11:41

@MerylSqueak Can I ask why? Your child isn't doing their GCSEs.

Dodgeitornot · 04/04/2023 11:44

@MerylSqueak sorry just saw your reply. Seems very excessive though. If she's going 4-5hrs now, what does more next year mean?

Mumsafan · 04/04/2023 11:58

We've got a plan plus there are 3 sessions in school this week (French music, maths/further maths) and then a day next week and the week after for maths/ further maths.

She is having a day off completely each week plus Sundays off as she works on the afternoon.

Looks like she has two subjects per day ( one morning and one afternoon), music practice on one instrument that has an exam next term everyday , plus she listens to EL podcasts in bed for an hour before sleep or practises some French.

Most of the plan has been drawn up by her as she knows which areas of which subject she needs to concentrate on.